Cucumber harvesting machine



July 8, 1958 D. G. GREW 2,841,947

CUCUMBER HARVESTING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1955 11 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. 004/4945 6.62514 #15 ATTOIQIVEYS July 8, 1958 D. G. GREWCUCUMBER HARVESTING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 25, 1955INVENTOR.

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CUCUMBER HARVESTING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1955 1 ll Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

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CUCUMBER HARVESTING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1955 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

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HH HH July 8, 1958 Filed July 25, 1955 July 8, 1958 D. G. GREW CUCUMBERHARVESTING MACHINE ll Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed July 25, 1955 United StatesPatent 2,841,947 CUCUMBER HARVESTING MACHINE Dolphis G. Grew, Saginaw,Mich. Application July 25, 1955, Serial No. 524,258 Claims. (Cl. 56-327)This invention relates to the-mechanized harvesting of cucumbers fromgrowing vines while leaving the vines in good condition to produce andyield additional cucumbers, and is for apparatus for picking thecucumbers of usable size from the vines from time to time as growingconditions may require.

A primary object of my invention is to provide a barvesting machineadapted to be driven through the fields of growing vines, and by a novelmethod and apparatus, engage the vines, remove and collect the usablefruits of assorted sizes, and replace the vines on the ground withoutdestruction of the vines, blossoms, or freshly set cucumbers of a sizetoo small to be gathered.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a harvesting machineand method which will operate with an efiiciency at least comparable toor better than the efficiency of the transient hand labor available forthe same purpose.

Another object of the inventionis to provide an apparatus of thecharacter described which removes the cucumbers from the growing vineswhile being driven through a field of such vines.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which duringmovement through a field of growing vines, raises the vine from theground without damage to the roots thereof, severs the cucumbers fromthe vine, collects the severed cucumbers and returns the vine to theground for further growing and production of cucumbers.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of thecharacter described which is selective as to the size of cucumbers whichare severed from the growing vine.

These and other objects of the invention will be made apparent as thedescription proceeds.

During the relatively short growing season, the cucumber vines in afield have fruits in a wide range of sizes and in various stages ofdevelopment. The usable sizes for commercial pickling purposes rangefrom the smallest gherkins preferably about diameter and 1 /8 long, tolarge cucumbers about 2" in diameter and 6 in length. The smaller fruitsdemand a higher price, while cucumbers above the maximum size aboveindicated are normally in little demand and should be removed from thevines because the fruit is then ripening and robbing the vine of vigorand productiveness. In good growing weather the fruit may develop fromthe minimum usable size above stated to the maximum size in from to 70hours.

At the present time imported transient labor, which is in scarce supply,must be relied upon for harvesting the cucumbers. This is not onlyunreliable and expensive, but it is hard, hot, laborious toil, and sincea large grower can scarcely cover the fieldevery forty hours, much fruitwill be lost by overdevelopment, especially since the average laborerwill miss much of the small fruit because of the leaf growth and thedifiiculty of seeing the smaller cucumbers.

Cucumber vines are fragile and easily broken and it was long consideredthat they should not be disturbed very much lest they stop bearing. 1have discovered that contrary to general belief, the vines, it properlyhandled, may be lifted from the ground if the roots be not disturbed,fruits of usable size removed, and the vine placed back on the ground,and its yield will not be seriously impaired, even if the leaves in somecases must reorient themselves when the vine is replaced. My inventiontherefore contemplates such manipulation of the vines.

Not only must the vines be properly handled, but the stem attaching thefruit to the vine is relatively stronger and less brittle than the vine,so that an axial pull is likely to damage the vine before the fruit isdetached. A force applied at right angles to the length of the cucumherwill more effectively remove it, and my invention is designed to applysuch force, but substantially avoid the breaking or bruising of thefruit.

Also the leaves offer interference to the separation of the fruit fromthe vine, and yet the vine must be handled in such manner as to impairor damage the leaves as little as possible. My invention provides forthe effective shaking of detached fruits out of the mass of leaves andvines.

After much experimentation, I have found that the most efficient methodof mechanically picking cucumbers of assorted sizes is to raise thegrowing end of the vine from the ground, detach the fruits from thevine, and return the vine to the ground for further growth andproduction. The vines normally grow to lengths of 4 to 6 feet, andunless cultivated will so intermingle on the ground that can not belifted without considerable damage. To overcome this, I have found itdesirable to plant the vines in spaced rows about 6' 6" apart and tospace the vines in a row so that they can be trained to grow withoutdensely interminglin'g. Mechanical training of the growing vines may beresorted to when they reach a length of 2 to 3 feet to encouragestraight line growth. Preferably a combing operation is used and suchmechanical combing is preferably limited to one such handling ofthevines. I have also found it desirable to divide a field lengthwiseand train the spaced rows of vines in one half of the field to grow inone direction and the vines in the other half of the field to grow inthe opposite direetion. The vines may be disced to prevent overlappingof the rows. This permits picking the cucumbers by running the machinedown one side of the field and then turning the machine and running themachine down the opposite side of the field in the opposite direction.

During trials of the machine it has been observed that the younger vinesand their leaves are more brittle than they are at the middle of thegrowing season. It has also been observed what when the vines arecovered with dew at the beginning of the work day, or when the vines arecovered with moisture as from rains, a dilferent handling action isrequired than when the vines are dry. In the present embodiment of theinvention the vine handling portions of the apparatus are readilyadjustable to compensate for the varying conditions of the vines.

In the drawings forming part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 shows a plan view of the harvester;

Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the harvester in picking position;

Fig. 3 shows an end elevation taken on line III--III of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 shows an enlarged plan view of the sub-structure of the harvesterproviding support for the picking and collecting mechanism;

Fig. 5 shows a section through the sub-structure taken on lines V-V ofFig. 4- illustrating the manner of raising the harvester from pickingposition to permit turning or transporting thereof;

Fig. 6 shows an enlarged section through the harvester on lines VI-VI ofFig. 1 illustrating the relation between the vine lifting and shakingmechanisms;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view with parts broken away and shownin section showing support of the secondary rolls from the substructureof Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the drive for the vine lifting rolls;

I Fig. 9 is a fragmentary end elevational view showing the relation andsupport of the rear conveyor and vine shaker upon the vine secondarylifting rolls;

Fig. 10 shows an enlarged view of the vine lifting and stem severingmechanism;

Fig. 11 shows an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the rear conveyor andvine shaker;

Fig. 12 shows a side elevation of the vine shaker shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 shows a cross'section through the vine shaker rear CDllVfiYGl'and and rear conveyor taken on the line Xlll-Xlll of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged cross section on lines XlV-XlV of Fig. 11 showingthe drive for the vine take-away rolls; Fig. 15 is a cross section takenon the line XV-XV of Fig. 11 showing an end view of the supportingbracket for the vine take-away rolls and bearing for the vine shakerspirals;

, Fig. 16 is a schematic arrangement of the drive for the vine shaker;

Fig. 17 shows an elevational view with parts broken away and shown insection of the belt tightener for the side conveyor drive;

Fig. 18 shows a section taken on lines of Fig. 17;

XViil-XVill Fig. 19 shows an enlarged view of a portion of the sideconveyor and feed into the elevator boots;

Fig. 20 shows a proposed vine planting plan; and Fig. 21 shows amodification of the vine pick-up rolls and cucumber stern severingmechanisms.

The machine contemplated by my invention comprises a supporting vehicle,such as a more or less conventional farm tractor which may not onlypropel itself but provide power for operating the picking machine. Asub-frame attached to the vehicle provides a support for the variouspicking, vine handling and cucumber conveying and collecting elements ofthe machine. The vine lifting and picking mechanism comprises a clusterof rolls or roll guided elements, such as belts which are open at oneend and inclined upwardly from the open end. The

growing vines are first engaged near the root ends by 5 this rollcluster, or roll and belt cluster, and elevated, the lifting progressingtoward the free end of the vine due to the inclination of the cluster ofpicking rolls or roll-like elements upwardly from the open. end. Afterthe vine is elevated it is carried in an inclined position to ward therear of the vehicle. large enough to pick may Since the fruit which isbe moving vertically while the vine is moving rearwardly, the stem istensioned at right angles to the fruit and the fruit detached from thevine. A further element of the machine is a vine shaking and arrangingconveyor which straightens the vines out transverse to the direction oftravel of the vehicle to be laid back on the ground while the shakingdislodges picked cucumbers that may be enmeshed in the vines. A conveyorsystem collects the plucked fruit and delivers it to a bin or hopper onthe machine, while a power drive so relates all of thevarious functionsto the forward travel of the vehicle so that the progressive picking upof the vines, picking of the cucumbers, straightening of the vines, andlaying them back down does not uproot the vines or break them.

These mechanisms will be order, except that to some volve-d with oneanother.

hereinafter described in this extent they are mutually in- The tractionunit Any suitable means may be provided for moving the harvesterlongitudinally of the rows of cucumber vines and furnishing the motivepower for the operation of the harvester. The harvester disclosed in thedrawings for illustrating a preferred embodiment of the inventionutilized a commercially available farm tractor to which a sub-structureof structural members was mounted upon the tractor frame members ashereinafter described. It will be obvious that any suitable traction anddrive mechanism may be provided.

The sub-structure The sub-structure comprises the member 2 which may bea standard pipe section having the plates 3 secured to the upper surfacethereof as by welding and mounted on the tractor frame members 4 bymeans of the U-bolts 5 and nuts 6 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Suitablysecured to one end of the member 2 is a split clamp 7 for receiving thestem member 8 which is adjustably mounted in the split clamp andprovided with a safety collar 9 suitably secured to the member 8 andbearing upon the upper end of the split clamp 7. The split clamp issecured to the member 8 by means of the clamping bolts 10. At the bottomof the stem member 8 is secured a sleeve member 11 through which extendsa shaft 12 for rotary movement therein. A collar 13 on the shaft 12limits longitudinal movement between the shaft and sleeve in onedirection and a collar 14 mounted on the opposite end of the sleeve actsthrough washer members 15 mounted on theshaft and a cotter pin 16 tolimit relative longitudinal movement between the shaft and sleeve in theopposite direction. Preferably an Alemite fitting 17 extends through thesleeve 11 providing-lubricant to the shaft rotating within the sleeve.At one end of the shaft 12 and secured theretoby any suitable means asby welding, is a split clamp 18 through which extends the main crossmember 19 which may also be a pipe or any other suitable structuralmember; and is preferably located at the center line of the transmissionunit 20 for driving the picking mechanism and cucumber conveyors. Theclamp 18 connecting the member 19 with the shaft 12 is provided withsuitable bolts '21 for securing the clamp to the member 19 and permitsadjustment of the member 19 transversely of the tractor so as to balancethe mechanism hereinafter described and mounted on the sub-structure.Beneath one end of the member .19 is a member 22 extendinglongitudinally of the harvester pro viding support for the outer end ofthe primary roll and the front conveyor. This member 22 may comprise astructural channel having its web suitably secured to the member 19 asby welding and having the collars 23 and 24 at opposite sides of themember 22 mounted on the transverse member 19 and securing the channeland pipe together in any suitable manner as by welding. Outwardly of theadjacent end of the transverse member 19 is mounted sheath member 25through which extends the shaft 26 and is secured in position by meansof the U bolt 27 having nuts 28 connecting it to the adjacent member 23.The lower end of the shaft 26 is deflected outwardly and has mountedthereon the wheel 29 suitably secured in position by nut 30. Mountedbeneath the member 19 intermediate the ends thereof and secured theretoas by welding is the member 51 extending longitudinally of the harvesterand providing a support for the ends of the primary and secondary rolls.At the outer end of the member 19, disposed beneath the same andextending longitudinally of the harvester, is a channel member 32secured to the member 19 as by welding and reinforced 'by the member 33welded to the members 19 and 32.

The sub-structure member 19and associated members 22,

31 and 32 may be pivoted about member 12 tolower r the primary andsecondary rolls into picking position, or

to raise them above the ground when the tractor is turning or movingbetween fields. This raising and lowering is accomplished by means ofthe device indicated gen erally by reference character 225. This devicecomprises an operating lever 226 pivotally mounted at one end 227 totractor frame member 4 and connected by link 228 to lever 229 mounted onthe member 4 by bracket 230. The lower end of lever 229 has a link 231connected thereto and to clevis 232 which in turn is connected by strap233 to member 19. When lever 226 is pulled back or pushed forward, asshown in Fig. 3, it acts to raise substructure member 19 and associatedrolls.

Vine lifting and picking mechanism The vine lifting and cucumber pickingmechanism, Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive, is comprised of a cluster ofcooperating elements, one or all of which may be rolls or belts guidedover rollers, and which function much as did circular rolls used by mein my original experiments, but which in the case of belts providegreater area of contact with the vine. Therefore, whether such elementsare rolls in a specific sense, or belts moving over rollers, I shalldesignate these elements as rolls. This cluster of rolls is comprised ofa primary roll, the axis of which extends crosswise of the direction oftravel of the tractor and is inclined. The primary roll is a cylindricalmember having a shaft 34 enclosed by a thick, soft rubber coating 35which may advantageously be made from foam rubber. This primary roll issuspended from the sub-structure members 22 and 31 by means of thehangers 36 which are provided with threaded end portions 37 engagingwithin the slotted openings 38 of the sub-structure members 22 and 31 soas to be adjustable relative thereto. When the primary roll-ispositioned as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the lower end of the rolladjacent the root line is spaced from /2" to 2 from the ground for apurpose hereinafter set forth. The lower end of each hanger 36 isprovided with a circular portion 39 engaging the shaft 34, and ispreferably provided with a roller bearing upon which the shaft turns.

Mounted rearwardly of the primary roll with respect to forward movementof the harvester and forming part of the roll cluster, are verticallyspaced secondary rolls hereinafter referred to as upper and lowersecondary rolls, and which are in vertically opposed relation to oneanother, and which are in confronting relation to the rear surface ofthe primary roll, being sloped crosswise of the machine at the sameangle as the primary roll. Each secondary roll is here shown as a beltpassing over supporting rollers so tially a rectangle comprising arelatively thick rubber continuous outer cover or belt 44) moving aboutthe cylindrical roller 41 at one side of the roll, and about the threetriangularly arranged rollers 42a, 42b and 42c, at the opposite side ofthe roll. The rubber covering of the secondary rolls is preferably notas soft as that of the primary roll. As shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings,the lower face of each secondary roll is preferably substantiallyhorizontal, and the upper face of the secondary roll preferably slopesdownwardly in a direction rearwardly of the harvester so that eachsecondary roll presents a substantially vertical face adjacent theprimary roll and the opening between the upper and lower secondary rollsincreases from the front to the rear of the secondary rolls.

The secondary roll assembly extends transversely of the harvestersubstantially parallel to the primary roll. The respective upper andlower secondary rolls are mounted upon supporting members ofsubstantially the same length disposed transversely of the harvester insubstantially parallel relation with the primary roll and may comprisethe T-bars 46 and 47. The inner end of the T-bar 46 is adjustablymounted upon the sub-assembly member 43 depending from the member 31 bymeans of bolts 48 extending through openings in the Hear and a that intransverse section each is substani slotted opening 49 in the member 43.The outer end of the T-bar 46 has a member 50 secured thereto and amember 51 extending outwardly from the member 50 in substantialalignment with the Than The outer end of the T-bar is supported from thesub-frame member 212- by means of a hanger 52. secured to the member 51and extending through an opening 53 in the member 22. The hanger 52 hasits free end threaded and secured within the sub-assembly member 22 bymeans of the nuts 54. The lower T-bar 47 is likewise mounted on thesubframe member 43. The T-bar 47 is preferably secured in fixed relationto the member 43 as by bolts or welding and has no outer support, sincethe vines must pass freely between the upper and lower secondary rollsat the outer ends thereof.

Mounted on each Tbar 46 and 47 and spaced longitudinally thereof are aplurality of plate-like members 45. T he member 7 has the plates thereofin substantial alignment with the similar plates on the member 46,excepting that the plate at the outer end of the member l! is insubstantial alignment with the plate of the member 46. Each of theplates 45 and have triangularly arranged openings therethrough in whichare mounted the shafts 44 of the rollers 42a, 42b, and 42c, said rollersbeing sectional and disposed between the plates 45. As shown in Figs. 6and 9 of the drawings, the plates 45 of the respective upper and lowerT-bars 46 and ii are reversed so that the rubber cover 4'0 at theopposing faces of the rolls is supported by two of the rollers 42:: and42b and the vertical faces of the secondary rolls opposing the primaryroll are supported by two of the rollers 42b and 420. Adjacent each endof the l"-bars 46 and 7 is mounted a tubular member 5'56 secured to therespective adjacent plates 45 and 5h. The rear rollers 4-1 of thesecondary roll assembly are mounted on shafts 57 journaled at each endin roller bearings mounted in one end of a hanger 58 whose opposite endis adjustably mounted in the member 56 at each end of the T-bars 46 and47. The T-bar 47 of the lower secondary roll has a vertically disposedsleeve 59 secured to the member 56 at the outer end thereof for supportof a rear conveyor drag rod as hereinafter set forth.

The drive for the primary and secondary rolls as shown in Figs. 4- and 8comprises the shaft 69 of transmission unit having a chain sprocketthereon, chain sprocket 62 mounted on shaft 34 of the primary roll,chain sprocket 63 and spur gear 64 mounted on the shaft 57 of the uppersecondary roll, the spur gear 65 mounted on shaft 57 of the lowersecondary roll and the chain 66 trained about said sprockets 61, 62 and63. Slack in chain 66 resulting from normal wear or adjustments of theprimary roll 35 or upper secondary roll 40 may be taken up by the idlersprocket 67 adjustably mounted on the sub-structure member 31 by meansof bearing bracket 68 secured to member 31 by any suitable means such asbolts 69 engaged in slotted holes formed in member 31.

The cluster of rolls provides a vertical pass between the rear face ofthe primary roll and the front face of the lower secondary roll in whichthe vine with attached fruit is lifted, the lifting progressing, ashereinafter more fully described, from near the root end of the vinetoward the free end because of the transverse inclination of the rolls.A horizontal pass for the vines is provided between the confrontingfaces of the two secondary rolls, so that after the vines are liftedthey have a relative rearward movement between the secondary rolls. Asthis change of direction will take place more readily for the thin vinethan it will for the elongated cucumber, it is largely through this thatthe stem is pulled at right angles to the fruit and the cucumberdetached, as hereinafter more fully explained.

Vine shaking and conveying mechanism Mounted on the harvester rearwardlyof the bottom secondary roll and immediately adjacent thereto for receiving the cucumber vines passing between the secondary rolls is a vineshaking and straightening device mounted above a transversely movingrear conveyor. The vine shaking device is comprised of a series ofparallel spiral or helical elements 71) mounted to rotate eccentricallyof their axes and extending in a fore-and-aft direction. These elementshave straight eccentric ends which, as shown in Fig. 11, are carried inbearings 71 and 71a on the side members of the rear conveyor, as shownin Figs. 9 and 11 to 16.

The rear conveyor indicated generally by reference character 73 includesside members 74 connected at their outer ends by the conveyor roll 75whose shaft 76 is journaled in adjustable pillow blocks 77 mounted onthe top flange of members 74. The bottom flange of the members 74,beneath the pillow blocks, is notched at 78 to receive the conveyor dragrod 79 disposed between the member 74 and the ground. This drag rod, asshown in Figs. 7 and 9, has an inner angular portion 80 provided with adepending flange portion 31 engaged within memher 59 secured to T-barmember 47 of the lower second ary roll. The inner ends of the bottomconveyor 73 are connected by the driving roll 82 mounted on shaft 33journaled in the members secured to the conveyor side member '74-. Theinner end of conveyor 73 is suspended from the substructure member 31 byhanger members 85 and 85a, Figs. 6 and 12, connected to the members 74and to the member 31. A conveyor belt 86 is trained over conveyor rolls'75 and 82. The upper surface of belt 86 intermediate the rolls 75 and82 is supported on rolls 87 journaled in bearings 88 mounted on themembers 7 1. The under side of belt 86 engages rolls as journaled inbearings 90 mounted on the members 74.

The relation of the vine shaking spirals '71 to the rear conveyor 73 isbest shown in Figs. 2, 11, 12 and 13 of the drawings. In Fig. 11,showing the intermediate portion of the conveyor broken away, thespirals 70 are spaced inwardly from the lower end of conveyor 73 andspaced at intervals crosswise above the conveyor a sufi rcient distanceto receive and shake the maximum expected length of the cucumber vineduring the growing season. As above indicated, the eccentric straightends of the spirals are mounted in bearings 71 and 71a. Bearings 71. aresecured to a supporting member 5 1 attached to the adjacent conveyorchannel 74. Bearings 71a are secured to bracket 92 attached to theadjacent conveyor channel 74. The end portion 93 of spiral 70 terminateswithin its associated bearing 71 and spiral end portion 94 extendsthrough bearing 71a. The extended portions 94 have driving chainsprockets 95 mounted thereon. all respects to spirals 70 excepting ithas a helical gear 96 mounted on the straight end portion in front ofits bearing 71a, this gear driving shaft 132 to be hereinafterdescribed.

The spirals are driven in unison by gear 97 mounted on conveyor shaft 83acting through gears 93 and to drive chain sprocket 1110. A chain 1131is trained over sprocket 11M) and spiral sprockets 95. Above chain 1111and adjacent sprocket 100 is an idler sprocket 223 maintaining chain 101in contact with sprockets 95. Beneath chain 101 and between thesprockets 95 are idler sprockets 102 supported on shafts 103 journaledin bearing brackets 104 secured to the adjacent conveyor channel 74. Thegears 98 and 99 are mounted on shafts journaled in a U- shaped bracket1115 secured to the adjacent conveyor channel 74. The bracket 165 iscomprised of an inner wall 1% adjacent channel 74, an outer wall 107 anda connecting bottom wall 1% extending to the web of channel 74 and.connected thereto. Disposed between the walls 106 and 107 is an L-shapedmember having one arm 169 extending in parallel spaced relation to wall107 and an arm 110 connected to the wall 197. Bearing members 111 and112 are mounted on wals 106 and 107. The shaft 113 of gear 98 isjournaled in members 109 and 112, and the shaft 114 of gear 99 andsprocket 100 is journaled in Spiral 70a is similar in t m to hearingmembers 111 and 112. A guard 222 is shown in Fig. 9 and by dotted lineson Fig. 12, to carry the vines from rolls 117 over chain 101. Such guardmay be mounted on the top flange of conveyor channel 74 and connected tothe conveyor hanger member 85.

As best shown in Figs. 9 and ll to 15 the cucumber vines are carriedonto and away from the shaker spirals 70 by rollers 116 and 117extending longitudinally of the conveyor. The rollers 116 have shaftsjournaled in bearings 11S mounted on bracket 119 secured to the outerend of conveyor channel 74. At the inner end of the conveyor the shafts115 are journaled in bearing 120 mounted on bracket 121 secured to theend of the conveyor channel 74. The bracket 121 comprises a bottom plateextending inwardly beneath channel 74 and secured thereto by members123. Adjacent the outer end of plate 122 is an upwardly-extending plate124 having a boss 125 thereon, both bored and having a bushing toreceive shaft 126. Plate 124 is reinforced by plate 127 secured theretoand to plate 122. Intermediate the ends of plate 122 is anupwardly-extending member 128 having bearing 120 mounted thereon andboth bored to receive shafts 115. Shafts 115 extend through member 123and have gears 129 mounted thereon meshing with gear 130 disposedbetween plate 124 and member 128 and mounted on shaft 126. At the outerend of shaft 126 is mounted pulley 131 which drives the rolls 116.

The rolls 117 at the rear side of the vine shaker carry the vines awayfrom the shaker spirals 70 and deposit the vines upon the ground. Theserolls are in sections disposed between the vine shaker spirals 70 andare provided with a common shaft 132 journaled in bearings 133 mountedon brackets 92. At the bracket 92a the bearings 133a are spaced and ahelical gear 134 mounted on shaft 132. Gear 134- meshes with theadjacent gear 96 mounted on the adjacent spiral 70a and the shaft 132 isdriven therefrom.

When the vines pass from between the upper and lower secondary rolls,they are transferred by rolls 116 to the spirals into the convolutionsof which the vines fall and by the operation of which they arestraightened out, and gently pulled as they are conveyed by the screwaction of the spirals toward the rear of the machine. Since the spiralsrevolve eccentrically about their axes, the vines are also raised andlowered to shake out cucumbers which have been detached but areentangled with the vines and leaves.

Conveying and collecting mechanism As will hereinafter become moreapparent, some of the cucumbers which are picked move rearwardly withthe vines, while others are carried forwardly over the top of theprimary roll. Consequently the machine embodies a second or frontconveyor substantially parallel with the rear one.

Forwardly of the primary roll 35 and extending transversely of theharvester is a front conveyor for receiving cucumbers separated from thevines and ejected forwardly of the primary roll. As best shown in Figs1, 3 and 6. this conveyor comprises spaced side channels 135 and 136having mounted at their outer ends adjustable bearings 137 within whichis journaled the shaft 138 having the roll 139 thereon and disposedbetween the channels. At the opposite or inner ends of the channels aremounted the bearings 1411 within which is journaled the shaft 141 havingthe roll 1 32 thereon. An endless conveyor belt 143 is threaded overrolls 139 and M2 and is supported intermediate its ends upon the rollers144 journaled in suitable bearings 1.45 mounted on the channels 135 and136. The channels are adjustably suspended from the sub-frame members 22and 31 by means of the hanger rods 14-6 and 14-7 secured to channels 135and 136. One end of the shaft 111 for the conveyor belt supportingroller 14?. extends through its bearing and has mounted on suchextension a sprocket 148 for driving the conveyor belt 143.

At one side of the harvester and opposite the root line of the vinesbeing processed by the harvester is mounted a side conveyor extending'10]. gitudinally of the harvester and onto which the aforementionedfront and rear conveyors discharge their contents. This side conveyor,as best shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 19, comprises longitudinallyextendingside members such as the channels 149 suspended from the sub-structuremember 32?. by means of the hanger 150 connected to the sub-structuremember by any suitable means such as the bolts 151. At the forward endof the conveyor and between the channels lid-9 is mounted the roller 152upon shaft 153 journaled in suitable bearings preferably adjustablymounted on the conveyor. At the rearward end of the conveyor is mounteda roller 154 having a shaft 155 journaled in suitable bearings 1556secured to the ends of the conveyor frame members 149. A continuous beltmember 157 is mounted on the rollers 152 and 154. At the rear end of theconveyor, adjacent belt roller 154, is mounted a chute 158 whichreceives the cucumbers from the conveyor belt 157 and discharges themonto the adjacent vertical conveyor. This chute comprises side portions159 at each side of the conveyor belt and an inclined bottom portion 166terminating in a flexible member 161. The chute is mounted upon theconveyor by means of suitable brace members such as 162 at each side ofthe conveyor and adjustably connected to a frame member 163 secured tothe bottom of the chute. Preferably a vertically-extending guide plate164 is mounted at the sides of the conveyor belt to retain the cucumbersas they move toward the chute. The belt is driven through the roller bymeans of an extension of one side of the roller shaft 1535 upon which ismounted the chain driving sprocket 165 and at the opposite end of theshaft by means of the pulley 166.

Adjacent the end of the rear conveyor and spaced inwardly therefrom is asuitable hopper 167' for receiving the cucumbers from the side conveyor.This hopper may be of .any suitable design and as shown in Figs. 1 to 3of the drawings is substantially rectangular having a sloping bottom 168which may be supported from any suitable portion of the tractorstructure such as the rear axle 169 of the tractor by means of thesubstantially triangul-arly-shaped braces 176, 121 and 172 having theapex thereof resting on the rear axle and secured thereto by anysuitable means. in the rear wall 173 of the hopper is mounted a suitabledoor for removing the cucumbers therefrom. The hopper may also besuitably braced such as by the members 174- extending upwardly from asuit able portion of the tractor structure and connected at their upperends by means of the transversely-disposed member 175 secured to themembers 174 and connected with the top of the hopper. At one side of thehopper 1 and disposed transversely of the end of the chute 158 of theside conveyor is a vertical conveyor frame comprised of the side members176 supported from the brace memher 175 extending outwardly across thehopper. At each end of the conveyor frame are mounted the rollers 177over which is trained a suitable conveyor belt 178 having the buckets179 mounted thereon, the buckets being so rotated as to receive thecucumbers from the side conveyor chute 158 and to discharge them into asuitable chute 180 which conveys them to the hopper 167. At the bottomof the conveyor is preferably mounted a suitable sheet metal guard 181to protect the buckets at the bottom of the conveyor. The conveyor beltis driven by a vertical shaft 182 mounted at one side of the conveyorframe by means of the brackets 183. The upper end of theshaft 182 isconnected with the shaft 184- on the upper roller 177 by any suitablemeans such as a pair of miter gears 185, and the shaft 186 of lowerroller 177 is similarly connected so that both the rolls 177 are driven.The vertical shaft 182 is powered by a pulley 187 mounted on theextension of the shaft 136 of roller 177 and a similar pulley 166mounted on the shaft 155 of the end conveyor. The pulleys 166 and 137are driven by suitable belts 188 l '16 trained over them and preferablya suitable belt tensioning member such as 189 is connected to the beltbetween the pulleys and may be suspended from the shaft of the sideconveyor by means of any suitable arm such as 190.

Driving mechanism In order to power the various conveyors and theprimary and secondary rollers from the engine of the tractor, a gear box191 may be mounted on the tractor frame structure such as the members 4,Fig. 4. Within the gear box is a driving gear 192 mounted on the shaft193 which extends outwardly from the gear box through a suitable bearing194 and supported upon a suitable bracket 195. A sheave such as the twogroove V-belt sheaves 196 is mounted on the shaft 195 and connected bybelt 197 with a similar pulley 196 on the tractor engine shaft 193. Adriven gear 1% on shaft 199 is mounted within the gear box. An extensionof shaft 199 from one side of the gear box is connected by means of auniversal joint 200 to a splined telescoping shaft 2M having at itsopposite end a second universal joint 262 connected with the shaft 203of the transmission unit 20. A driving shaft 69 extends from the unit2t) and is journaled adjacent its outer end in bearing 2&4 mounted onthe sub-frame member 19. The shaft 60 extends through bearing 204 andhas a pulley 295 mounted on said extension. Pulley 205 is connected bybelt 206 with pulley 131 on shaft 126 of the vine shaking device of Fig.11. Mounted on shaft 60, intermediate the ends thereof, is worm 207 andsprocket 61. Worm 207 meshes with worm gear 208 mounted on shaft 209journaled in pillow blocks 210 mounted on subframe member 31. Thesprocket 61 of shaft 2% drives the primary and secondary rolls as inFig. 8. Sprocket 211 is connected by a suitable chain 212 with sprocket143 on the shaft 141 of the front conveyor, Fig. 3. Sprocket 21d ofshaft 209 is connected by chain 215 with sprocket 216 of shaft 83 at theforward end of the rear conveyor. The side conveyor 149 is driven fromsprocket 217 through chain 218 and sprocket of shaft 155 on theconveyor. Sprocket 217 is mounted on shaft 219 journaled at its oppositeends on substructure members 31 and 32. Shaft 219 is driven through apair of miter gears 220 and 221 mounted respectively on shafts 209 and219.

As an aid to better understanding of the operation of the harvester,reference is made to Fig. 20 of the drawings showing quite schematicallya preferred method of growing the cucumber vines in a field, and themanner of using the harvester in a field so planted. As shown thereinthe vines are planted in spaced rows longitudinally of the field andtrained to grow transversely of the field. One half the rows of vinesare trained to grow in one direction, and the remaining half in theopposite direction. After the vines have started to produce cucumbers ofthe desired size, the harvester is moved longitudinally of the rows ofvines with the tractor wheels straddling the row of Vines and thesub-stmcture suitably inclined so that the open end of the picking rollcluster assembly is disposed adjacent the ground and spaced about 4inches from the root line. The wheel 29 at the side of the substructureframe when engaged with the ground supports the picking roll assembly ofthe harvester in picking position. This wheel trails the front wheel ofthe tractor, and all of the wheels at this side of the tractor travelalong the line of the rows on the side opposite the one to which thevines are trained, while the tractor is wide enough so that the wheelson the opposite side of the machine travel in a corresponding positionto the next row of vines, and the wheels do not pass over the vines.

General operation The harvester moves longitudinally of the vine rows ata speed of about 2% miles per hour with the primary roll spaced fromabout /2 to 2 inches above the ground. The bottom secondary roll isspaced about l/z inch above the ground and the spacing between thesecondary rolls where the vines enter between. them is preferablybetween 4 inch to 1 /2 inches. The spacing between the adjacent faces ofthe primary roll and bottom secondary r ll varies with the minimum sizesof cucumbers to be picked and will he /s inch or gre. To provide forthese at" itments the primary roll 35 is suspended from the substructuremembers 22 and ET by means of the threaded hanger members 36 extendingthrough slotted openings 38 in the sub-structure members. The uppersecondary roll is suspended from sub-structure me. by means of the boltsextending through the ron l i6 and slotted opening 49 in thesub-structure member 4-3. The spacing between the rolls, as hercinbeforediscussed, is less when the vines are young or dry than when older orwet with dew or rain.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 6 of the drawings, as tic harvester moveslongitudinally of the row of vines tie primary and lower secondary rollsare rotating in opposite directions 50 that their opposing faces aremoving upwardly with relation to the ground. As the primary roll 35advances towards the vines, it press-cs them towards the ground so as tospring up behind the roil when released. The lower secondary roll did isadvancing towards the released vines and the vines and leaves are caughtbetv. opposed u. moving faccs of the primary and lower secondary roll.These rolls being transversely from the open end of the cluster,progressively lift the entire length of the vine from the ground andpass it upwardly between their opposing faces. The upper secondary rolllib is rotating in a direction opposite to that of the lower secondaryroll so that the upwardlymovin vine upon moving free of the primary rollis engaged in the space below the upper secondary roll and the top ofthe lower primary roll to be moved relatively in a rearward direction.

The natural habit of growth of the cucumber vine is for the stem to growupward from the ground from four to eight inches and then turn over andgrow along the ground. The leaves which have fairly long stems growupwardly from the vine towards the light and the cucumbers growoutwardly along the ground from the vine upon short stems so as to bedisposed below and somewhat hidden by the leaves. As a consequence theleaves are first engaged by the opposing faces of the primary and lowersecondary rolls in lifting the vine from the ground. As vine is liftedthe cucumbers tend to hang down, and it is in such stem upward positionthat they are engaged between the rolls. The vine and its leaves areengaged between the opposing faces of the upper and lower secondaryrolls and move rearwardly of the barvester before cucumbers ofharvesting size have cleared engagement betwee the opposing faces of theprimary and lower secondary roll. Then the cucumber may be still heldand be moving vertically upward vhile the vine is being pulledhorizontally to the rear so that the cucumber stem is pulled sharply ina direction transversely of the axes of movement of the cucumber andsevers the stem from the cucumber. Cucumbers of different diameterscompress the roll surfaces to different extents, but the roll surfacesare resilient enough to accommodate all usable sizes. After the cucumberdetached from the vine and passes from between the primary and lowersecondary roll it may move forwardly of the primary roll to fall ontothe front conveyor M3, or be carried between the secondary rolls by thefollowing vines. Very small cucumber sets and blossoms are not disturbedor impaired by this operation and remain attached to the vine. Over sizecucumbers will be picked to avoid their being left on the vine, and iftoo large, may be broken in the picking operation so as to avoid theirbeing used.

The driving gear is so arranged that the passing of the vines betweenthe secondary rolls rearwardly of the moving harvester is at a ratesubstantially equal to the forward movement of the harvester so that itsposition relative to the ground changes very little and the vine is moi.

iii":

not pulled out of the ground during the foregoing operation, nor do thevines tend to seriously twist during passage between the secondaryrolls. As the vines pass from between the secondary rolls they fall uponthe rolls lid which preferably have a surface speed slightly greaterthan that of the harvester so that the vines are advanced on to theshaker. Here the vines are engaged by the convolutions of the rotatingspiral members 7t? which extend longitudinally of the path of travel ofthe tractor, and their direction of rotation is such as to move thevines rcarwardly of the tractor with a screw-like action. These spiralmembers 743 having their ends eccentrically mounted relative to thecenter line of the member impart a tossing or vertically undulatingmovement to the vines passing over them and thus separate the vines,tending to straighten them lengthwise and serving to dislodge entangledpicked cucumbers. Any cucumbers severed from the vines and carried withthem to the shaker table fall free of the vines and drop onto thetransverse rear conveyor disposed beneath the table. At the rear side ofthe shaker table the vines pass from the table over roll 117 and guard,Fig. 9, so as to be deposited upon the ground in a generally orderlyposition for the next picking and in good growing condition.

As best shown in Figs. l, 3 and 6 the cucumbers are collected anddeposited in a suitable receptacle or hopper T6? at the rear of theharvester. my of the cucumhers after being severed the vine pass overprimary roll 35 and are deposited upon front conveyor 143 movingtransversely of the har ester. The remaining cucumbers fall upon thesucceeding vines and are carried through the secondary rolls on to theshaker spirals The shaking action imparted to the vines cause thesevered cucumbers thereon to fall through the spirals 7t! and onto therear conveyor moving in the same direction as front con r The cucumbersare discharged from these conveyors 3d and E43 upon a side conveyor orbelt $.57 extending longitudinally of the harvester and movingrcarwardly thereof. As shown in Fig. 19, the accumulated cucumbers areretained on conveyor belt 35'? by guards N4 until they pass off the beltinto chute u and are discharged into the elevator boo-ts 179. A flexiblemember i453. secured to chute overlaps the rising boots T79 to directthe cucumbers into the boot. The boots 79 discharge their contents intochute 189 from which they into hopper 173.

A modified form of primary roll is shown in Fig. 21 of the drawingswhere n the roll body is substantially elliptical and is suspended fromsubm ..e members 21?. and 31 by hangers 36a. The body portion 22 9 ismounts on a suitable belt 225 trained over rolls 2-27 and These rollsmay be supported b 'i"-har and hanger similar to that described indetail for secondary rolls 53*. With such type of construction a softerroll surface may be provided so that the smallest and largest cucumbermay be accommodated. without bruising. This modified form of primaryroll may be used with the present secondary rolls as shown.

This application is continuation-in-part of my copending applicationsSerial No. 288,909, til d May 20, 1952, and now abandoned, and SerialNo. 38l,243, filed September 21, i953, and also now abandoned.

The presently preferred form of the invention has been shown anddescribed. Many modifications in details of construction will suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art and may be adopted withoutdeparting from the invention disclosed. it is to be understood,therefore, that the details of construction hereinbcfole shown anddescribed were for purposes of illustration and not limitation except asmade necessary by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for successive harvesting of maturing cucumbers from spacedrows of vines during the growing season and returning the vines to theground in condition for further growth and production of cucumberscomprising in combination wheeled frame means for movementlongitudinally of a row of vines in straddling relation thereto; meanscarried by the frame means for progressively lifting a vine throughoutthe length thereof above the ground from adjacent the root thereof sothat maturing cucumbers depend therefrom and resiliently engaging thematuring cucumbers depending therefrom; means carried by the frame meansfor imparting lateral movement to the vine relative to the cucumbersdepend ing therefrom in engagement with the vine lifting means forsevering the cucumbers from. the vine; means connected to the framemeans for collecting the severed cucumbers; and means carried by theframe means for returning the vines to the ground in condition forfurther growth, said means for collecting the severed cucumbersincluding a conveyor suspended from the wheeled frame means and disposedin front of the vine lifting means in substantially parallel relationthereto, a conveyor suspended from the wheeled frame means and disposedto the rear of the vine lifting means in substantially parallel relationthereto, and a third conveyor suspended from the wheeled frame means anddisposed transversely of the first named conveyors in a position toreceive cucumhers therefrom.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim l including vine shaking meanssupported on said wheeled frame means above the said rear conveyor forreceiving the vines from the vine lifting means and shaking said vinesabove said rear conveyor.

3. In a harvesting apparatus of the character described, in combination,a frame, a pair of horizontally spaced, oppositely rotatable membersmounted on said frame operable to grip a vine therebetween, said membersbeing sloped upwardly from corresponding ends, a rotatable vine turningmember mounted on said frame in vcrtically spaced opposing relation toone of the horizontally spaced members operable to receive a vine fromsaid spaced members and change its direction of movement, means spacedto one side of the vertically spaced members and mounted on said framefor receiving the vine issuing beneath the vine turning member anddepositing the vine upon the ground in position for further growth.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the means comprises aplurality of rotatable spiral shaped members spaced longitudinally ofthe vertically spaced memi bers and rotating about axes substantiallynormal to the latter members, and rotating members at each end of thespirals carrying the processed vines onto and away from said spirals.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein means is carried by saidframe beneath said spirals for receiving cucumbers falling from thevines moving upon the spirals.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein one of the horizontallyspaced opposing members is horizontally and vertically adjustablerelative to the other member and is provided with a readily yieldableouter surface so as to freely pass cucumbers of greater diameter thanthe spacing between the opposing members.

7. Apparatus for successively harvesting maturing cucumbers from spacedrows of vines throughout the growing season and returning the vines tothe ground for further growth and production of cucumbers, comprising, awheeled frame for movement longitudinally of a row of vines in straddledrelation thereto, a hopper on said frame, a rotatable primary rollcarried by said frame and extending transversely of the frame andinclined upwardly from one end, said one end of said primary roll beingpositionable adjacent the root line of the row of vines, a rotatablevine lifting secondary roll carried by the frame in spaced opposingsubstantially parallel rela' tion to the primary roll so that the vinesare engaged between the opposing faces of the rolls adjacent the vineroot line and progressively lifted above the ground throughout theirlength, a rotatable vine turning sec- 14 ondary roll carried by theframe in vertically spaced substantially parallel opposing relation tothe vine lifting roll, the relation of the vine turning roll to theprimary roll being such as to carry the vine transversely of the lowersecondary roll while the cucumbers depending from the lifted vine areengaged between the opposing faces of the Vine lifting and primaryrolls, means on said frame for receiving the vines from between thesecondary rolls and returning them to the ground in position for furthergrowth, means on said frame at opposite sides of the opposing primaryand secondary rolls for collecting cucumbers severed from the vineswhile passing between the secondary rolls, and means on said frame forreceiv ing the cucumbers from the collecting means and carrying themlongitudinally of the harvester to said hopper.

8. Apparatus for harvesting cucumbers from growing vines having rootedends and free ends, said apparatus comprising a mobile frame, aninclined cluster of rolllike elements extending transversely of saidframe and being spaced to grip the free ends of the vines therebetweenwhile the rooted ends remain rooted in the ground, said clustercomprising a primary element having a run which moves vertically, alower secondary element having a run which moves vertically inconfronting vine engaging and elevating relation to the said run of theprimary element said lower second element having a second run whichmoves rearwardly away from the primary element, and an upper secondaryelement having a downwardly moving run confronting the primary elementand a rearwardly movable run in confronting vine engaging relation tothe second run of the lower secondary element.

9. Apparatus for successive picking of cucumbers from spaced rows ofparallel growing vines during the growing season by raising the vine tocause the cucumbers to depend therefrom, severing them from the vine andreturning the vine to the ground for further growth comprising, asteerable wheeled frame for movement longitudinally of the rows of vinesso as to straddle the growing vines, a cylindrical member mounted on theframe extending substantially parallel to the direction of growth of thevine from adjacent the root of the straddled vine, an endless beltmember mounted on the frame adjacent to and parallel with thecylindrical member providing a vertically disposed portion extendingupwardly from adjacent the root of the vine and a rearwardly inclinedportion extending towards the ground, and means connected to saidmembers for rotating both members so that a vine disposed between themis progressively lifted vertically upward from the ground by thevertical face of the belt and then rearwardly and downwardly by theinclined portion of the belt for deposition upon the ground in growingdirection.

10. Apparatus for successive picking of cucumbers from growing vines bymechanically lifting the vines from the ground then removing thecucumbers therefrom and replacing the vines on the ground in conditionfor further growing and production of cucumbers, compris ing a wheeledframe, an elongated endless belt mounted on the frame and extending fromadjacent the root portion of the vine having a substantially verticalvine lifting portion and a rearwardly extending downwardly inclined vinereplacing portion, a similarly disposed opposing roll member mounted onthe frame and having a soft compressible outer peripheral portion spacedfrom the lifting portion of the belt a distance substantially equal tothe diameter of the smallest cucumber to be picked so as to retain thecucumber in contact with the belt and roll as the vine from which thecucumber depends moves onto the vine replacing portion of the belt, avine turning belt mounted on the frame and overlying the rearwardlyinclined portion of the endless belt in substantially coextensiverelationship therewith to guide the vine towards the ground in growingposition, drive means connected to said roll and to said belts forrotating the roll and l. belts, and a member associated with the rollfor receiving the cucumbers as they are removed from the vine.

11. Apparatus as in claim in which the roll and belts are mounted on anadjustable frame for maintaining them in the desired relation to theground which may be of varying contour.

12. Apparatus for successive picking of vegetables from growing vinesand returning the vines to growing position for further growth of vineand vegetable during the growing season, comprising a wheeled frame formovement along a row of such vines and straddling the vines andvegetables to be picked therefrom, a member rotatably mounted on theframe and extending from adjacent the root of the vine in a direciion ofthe growth of the vine for substantially the marimum growtn itTl""llthereof, a second similarly extending opposing me ber mount d on theframe in substantially horizontal spaced relation hrereto for engagingthe vine and vegetables growing thereon passing between said members, 'dsecond named member having a potion extending rearwardly of. the framefor depositing the vine upon the ground after passing between theopposing members, a third member disposed substantially parallel to andoverlying the rearwardly extending portion of the second member, meansconnected to said members for driving said members so as to lift a vineengaged therewith and pass the entire vine therethrough and return it tothe ground, and a vegetable collector associated with the first namedmember for reception of vegetables severed from the vine during passagebetween the opposing members.

13. Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein the opposing members have resilientopposing face portions.

14. Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein the rearwardly extending portion ofthe second member is disposed relative to the night between the firsttwo named members so as to be noving the vine rearwardly of the framewhile the vegetables depending therefrom are engaged by the opposingfaces of the first and second members.

15. A cucumber picking machine for lifting the grow ing ends of thecucumber vine from the ground, separating the cucumbers from the vineand returning the vine to the ground for further growth, comprising aframe, wheels supporting the frame for movement longitudinally of a. rowof spaced cucumber vines growing transversely of the direction ofmovement of the frame, a vine gath member rotatably mounted on the frameand disposed transversely of the f ame so as to slope upward y fromadjacent the root ends of the row of vines with one end of the memberdisposed adjacent to the ground, a vine lifting member rotatably mountedon the frame in spaced opposing relation to the vine gathering mom orand extending substantially parallel thereto transversely the frame,means for rotating said members so as to imp rt lifting movement to thegrowing of a vine initially aged between them adjacent the root 21d ofthe vine and without clislod ing the vine root end from the ground, avine turning member rotatably mounted on the frai to above said vinelifting member and extending substantially parallel thereto transverselyof the frame, means for rotating said vine turning memher so as tocooperate with the vine lifting member to receive the vine as it passesabove the lifting member and c y the vine rearwardly of the vine liftingmember and vehicle frame for return to the ground for further growing.

16. The cucumber picking machine.

as in claim 1.)

wherein each of the said vine engaging members is adjustably mounted onthe frame of said machine for independent adjustment relative to itscooperating rnc-nber.

17. The cucu... )CI picking machine as in claim 15 wherein the frame ispivotally mounted for selectively raising tl e said vine handling memberout of vine con: tacting position.

18. The cucumber picking machine as in claim 17 wherein the frame issupported in its lowermost inclined position relative to the ground by arotatable member in engagement with the ground.

19. The cucumber picking machine as in claim 15 wherein the vinegathering member has a relatively soft and compressible outer faceopposing the face of the vine lifting member permitting the spacingbetween the opposing faces of the members to be set to grip a minimumsize cucumber passing between them and compressible so as to pass amaximum sized cucumber without damage thereto.

20. A cucumber harvesting machine for harvesting cucumbers from groundattached vines comprising a mobile frame having front and rear ends; anda vine lifting and cucumber picking means on said frame, said meanscomprising a plurality of elongated cooperating elements extending at anincline and transversely of said frame.

21. A machine as set forth in claim 20 including vine shaking means onsaid frame rearwardly of said elements.

22. A machine as set forth in claim 21 including conveyor means on saidframe for receiving picked cucumbers.

23. A machine as set forth in claim 22 wherein said conveyor means islocated both fore and aft of said elements.

24. A machine as set forth in claim 22 wherein said conveyor meansincludes a portion thereof located beneath said vine shaking means.

25. A machine as set forth in claim 20 wherein said cooperating elementsare three in number.

26. A machine as set forth in claim 20 wherein each of said elements isformed of soft, yieldable, rubber-like material.

27. Apparatus for successively harvesting cucumbers throughout thegrowing season comprising mobile frame means adapted for movementalongside a row of growing vines each having an end rooted in the groundand a free end; vine lifting means supported by said frame means andpositioned thereby initially to engage a vine above the groundintermediate the free and rooted ends of the vine to raise the unrootedportion of the vine together with its fruit; rotatable means supportedby said frame means for effecting movement of said raised portion ofsaid vine relative to its fruit to detach the latter from said portionof said vine and for returning said portion of said vine to the groundin condition for further growth; and driving means connected to saidrotatable means for imparting rotation to the latter.

28. Apparatus as set forth in claim 27 including conveyor meanssupported on said frame means in a position to receive detached fruit.

29. Apparatus as set forth in claim 27 including vine shaking meanscarried by said frame means and located in the path of a vine beingreturned to the ground.

30. Apparatus as set forth in claim 29 wherein said conveyor meansincludes a portion located beneath said vine shaking means.

References (Iliad in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS

